ESTCOURT

estcourt, richard (1668-1712), english actor, began by playing comedy parts in dublin. his first london appearance was in 1704 as dominick, in dryden's _spanish friar_, and he continued to take important parts at drury lane, being the original pounce in steele's _tender husband_ (1705), sergeant kite in farquhar's _recruiting officer_, and sir francis gripe in mrs centlivre's _busybody_. he was an excellent mimic and a great favourite socially. estcourt wrote a comedy, _the fair example, or the modish citizen_ (1703), and _prunella_ (1704), an interlude.